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First Impressions: Dell XPS 12 Windows 8 Convertible Ultrabook

One of the initial offerings in the new breed of Windows 8 devices is Dell’s XPS 12 (formerly the XPS Duo 12), a convertible ultrabook running the full version of Microsoft’s newly-released operating system. A review unit landed on my desk this weekend, and I wanted to offer up some first impressions as a prelude to the eventual review.

A demonstration of the Dell XPS 12 Flip Hinge Design

This hybrid design is one that, in tandem with Microsoft’s Surface and the plethora of convertibles on the horizon, is poised to kill the traditional laptop. At first glance its flexible form factor is not only physical but also symbolic: Dell has given equal attention to the business professional and the savvy consumer. (More on that in the final review.)

The first thing that jumped out at me was the insane boot speed. From power on to ready to work in 11 seconds. Primary credit for this goes to Samsung’s 256GB solid-state drive, but also to the 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7-3517U. The XPS 12 is lightning fast, and it effortlessly handled importing roughly 50GB of music from a networked drive, syncing email and Skydrive folders, and browsing via Internet Explorer 10 with a dozen tabs open (simultaneously). I’ll run benchmarks in the near future, but this first impression didn’t disappoint.

The XPS 12 display boasts a 1920 x 1080 resolution on a 12.5” screen, covered edge to edge with Corning Gorilla Glass. It emits as much brightness as Microsoft’s Surface (400 nit) and is stunning to behold. The aspect ratio results in an awesome movie-watching experience, and an equally enjoyable time flipping through magazines in portrait mode.

A sexy but highly reflective screen

The touchscreen was very accurate and responsive when using the onscreen keyboard or playing a few rounds of Radiant Defense. However, it did hitch when rotating between landscape and portrait position, taking just under 2 seconds to reorient itself. (I tested this with Word and a few other applications to be sure it wasn’t a software bottleneck. It may in fact be common across Windows 8, but more research is required). This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it is slower than the 3rd generation iPad or Asus Transformer Prime.

Let’s briefly discuss the overall build quality. The chassis is made from machined aluminum, and the entire rim of the device (including the flip hinge) is composed of anodized aluminum. This combination lends the XPS 12 a wholly professional and sleek appearance. More importantly, every inch of this hardware looks and feels premium.

Something about this metal plate on the bottom of the unit screams quality

The design decision I appreciate most is that the back of the display and bottom of the XPS 12 are both lined with a carbon fiber composite. It feels soft against your fingers and cool to the touch – important when it’s resting on your lap.

One more bit of praise bordering on giddiness: The glass integrated trackpad feels downright luxurious. Seriously, head to your local tech retailer and touch the thing.

Unfortunately there was one disappointing realization in examining the XPS 12 — no SD card slot, not even MicroSD. In all fairness, this could be a dealbreaker for some of you.

During my first few hours with the XPS 12 I listened to a substantial amount of music. While ultrabooks and tablets definitely aren’t renowned for their superior audio quality, the maximum volume was surprisingly loud while remaining clear and without any distortion. This warrants a bit more exploration, but one thing’s certain: When this converts to tablet mode for media consumption, you won’t be straining to hear what you’re watching as with so many other products.

Like my introductory time with the Surface, Dell’s XPS 12 will be a new experience for many consumers and those curious about Windows 8. My initial impression is nothing but delight. If this is the future of post-PC hardware, bring it on.

I’ll reiterate that this isn’t a full review, but may serve as a tipping point if you’ve been curious about this particular Windows 8 convertible. Stay tuned for my final (and much deeper) analysis early in November.

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Also the entry-level of the Surface is not the full Windows 8, it is just a RT. Meaning it is not fully powered by Intel and have a lot storage. It looks like it is going to be tight. I’m aiming more toward this because of it is beautiful and the quality is just WOW! I saw it in person and I can’t wait to get mine.

I work for Microsoft and I have been using Windows 8 on a desktop for about 3 months already and while my initial thought was that Windows 8 was going to be hard on a desktop, after 4 days of use, I was completely sold on Windows 8. I have a Microsoft Touch mouse and I absolutely love how fast I can switch between applications.

My daily applications include Visual Studio, Word, Outlook, Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer and sometimes a few more. I do have a touch enabled screen but after a few days of using my Microsoft Touch Mouse, I can switch between my open applications so quickly and efficiently. Can wait to get my own Surface Pro or this particular Dell Tablet to replace my personal Dell Laptop.